In Re Kerckhof's Estate

On March 28, 1940, Lothaire Kerckhof was in a hospital in Pasco and about to undergo a surgical operation for a ruptured gastric ulcer. He indicated to the attending physician that he wanted to make a will, leaving five thousand dollars to his housekeeper and fiancee and the rest of his property to his brother Louis. A nurse was summoned and, under the direction of the patient, she wrote out substantially the following:

“I, Lothaire Kerckhof, in settlement of my estate, will $5,000 to my fiancee, Betty Weily; the balance of my estate to go to Louis Kerckhof, my brother.”

Mr. Kerckhof then…